Wesley Center Online
The First Epistle of St. John - Translation by John Wesley
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have beheld, and our hands have handled of the Word of life: (For the life was manifested, and we saw it, and testify and declare to you the eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us): That which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ: And these things write we to you, that your joy may be full.
And this is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My beloved children, I write these things to you, that ye may not sin. But if any one sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, verily in him the love of God is perfected: hereby we know that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Beloved, I write not a new commandment to you, but the old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, I do write a new commandment to you, which is true in him, and in you: for the darkness is passed away, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness until now. He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him: But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because darkness hath blinded his eyes. I have written to you, beloved children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name sake. I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: if any one love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eye and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the desire thereof; but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist cometh, so even now there are many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and know all things. I have not written to you, because ye know not the truth; but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is that liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ He is antichrist who denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, he hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son, hath the Father also. Therefore let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning: if that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise which he hath promised us, eternal life. These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any should teach you, save as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is true, and is no lie; and as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him.
And now, beloved children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Since ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one who practiseth righteousness is born of him.
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knoweth not him. Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And every one that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sin, and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not; whosoever sinneth, seeth him not, neither knoweth him. Beloved children, let no one deceive you. He that practiseth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning: to this end the Son of God was manifested, to destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed abideth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Hereby the children of God are manifested and the children of the devil: whosoever practiseth not righteousness is not of God; neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message which ye have heard from the beginning, that we love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we are passed from death to life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and ye know no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby we know the love of God, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him My beloved children, let us love not in word, neither in tongue, but in deed, and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he hath given us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him; and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he bath given us.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesseth Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is of God. And every spirit which confesseth not Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh: and now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, beloved children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world; therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us: he that is not of God, heareth not us; hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. Hereby was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son, a propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby we know that we abide in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess, that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. And we know and believe the love that God hath to us. God is love, and he that abideth in love, abideth in God, and God in him. Hereby is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and every one who loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God This is he that came by water and blood; even Jesus Christ; not by the water only, but by the water and the blood; and it is the Spirit who testifieth; because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree in one. And there are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; and this is the testimony of God, which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the testimony in himself. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the testimony which he hath testified of his Son. And this is the testimony, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written to you who believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye who believe on the name of the Son of God have eternal life. And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. If any one see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, let him ask, and he will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death. I do not say that he shall pray for that. All unrighteousness is sin: but there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is born of God keepeth himself, and the wicked one toucheth him not. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one. But we know that the Son of God is come; and he hath given us an understanding that we may know the true one; and we are in the true one, even in his Son Jesus Christ; this is the true God, and eternal life. Beloved children, keep yourselves from idols.